Burkina Faso

Landlocked Burkina Faso in West Africa is one of the poorest countries in the world.

3 million people in Burkina Faso lack access to an improved water source.

14 million people don't have access to improved sanitation in Burkina Faso.

Over 2,800 children under five years old die annually from poor water and sanitation in Burkina Faso.

Droughts have made water scarce and caused many people to move to unplanned urban slums where services are poor.

The crisis

3 million people in Burkina Faso lack access to safe water. The sanitation situation is even worse, with only 20% of people having access to a toilet. As a result, defecating in the open is common, contaminating water sources further.

2,800 children under the age of five die every year from preventable diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation.

Droughts are increasingly common and water supply services in many areas are inadequate. In one part of the country, mining activity often contaminates the water with arsenic.

Our approach

WaterAid has been working in Burkina Faso since 2001. We work through local partners who understand the specific challenges faced, to ensure we reach those most in need.

We also carry out advocacy work to influence key decision-makers. Our efforts have inspired the government to carry out a country-wide campaign on sanitation and hold a national sanitation forum.

Our work is focussed on reaching the poorest and most marginalised people. One example is a credit scheme for sanitation and soap-making enterprises, enabling women to earn an income while raising hygiene awareness.

Our impact

Burkina Faso5 Sep 2012

Rapid urbanisation, drought and groundwater contamination create huge challenges in Burkina Faso.
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Country details

Capital: Ouagadougou

Population: 18 million

Area: 274,200 km2

Other Main Cities: Bobo-Dioulasso, Banfora, Ouahigouya, Koudougou

The only toilet is in the bush

There's no safe water around so we just go to the waterhole to fetch some water to drink. I think that brings about the diarrhoea.

Adama

Roumtenga, Burkina Faso

Adama is a pupil at Roumtenga A School. She would like to be a teacher when she grows up, but she is often forced to miss lessons with diarrhoea.

She says she frequently gets ill because of a lack of safe water close to home. This makes it impossible for her to wash her hands before eating.

The problem is made worse by the fact that she doesn't have access to a toilet. She has no choice but to go into the bush at night, making it even harder to stay safe and healthy.